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Air Force edges Wyoming on layup at buzzer

Jan 14, 2007 - 3:32 AM LARAMIE, Wyoming (Ticker) -- Jacob Burtschi's clutch basket helped Air Force record an historic win.

Burtschi's buzzer-beating layup helped the 15th-ranked Falcons post their school record-tying 13th straight victory, a 58-56 triumph over Mountain West Conference foe Wyoming.

Burtschi scored 18 points to pace Air Force (17-1, 4-0 Mountain West), which also won 13 straight games from December 9, 2003-January 31, 2004.

Trailing by two points with 31 seconds left, Wyoming (11-6, 2-1) had a chance to tie when James Spencer went to the line, but he could only make 1-of-2 attempts.

"Conference games tend to come down to one or two key possessions," Wyoming coach Steve McClain said. "Our kids know every game in conference play is going to be like this. We've won a couple close games the last two weeks, today we had a chance to get another one but I give Air Force credit in making a big play at the end."

Air Force's John Frye and Dan Nwaelele each missed the front end of 1-and-1 opportunities before Wyoming's Daaron Brown tied the game, 56-56, by splitting two free throws with 21 seconds left.

Brandon Ewing, who led Wyoming with 15 points, stripped the ball from Nwaelele on the baseline and flung the ball the length of the court as time expired. But it was determined via replay that Ewing stepped out of bounds with 1.2 seconds left, giving Air Force a chance to win before the game went into overtime.

Nwaelele inbounded the ball to Burtschi, who laid it in for the dramatic victory.

"Burtschi is a good player," McClain said. "He made the kind of shot at the end that a veteran makes to win the game."

Nwaelele scored 13 points and Tim Anderson added 10 for the Falcons, who won despite shooting just 41.5 percent (22-of-53) and allowing the Cowboys to connect on 51 percent (20-of-39). Air Force also was outrebounded by 32-23.

Brad Jones collected 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Wyoming, which only held a 21-19 edge at the break despite limiting Air Force to just 27 percent (8-of-30) shooting.